Distinguished Guest in Library

 Welcoming distinguished guest in town for the holidays.

At the Reference Desk with an Eye on a Couple of Things

Wednesday evening. Seventh game of the 2016 World Series. Audio was off but we could take a peek at the video every once and a while if only to check the score.

The Gift to Be Indexing

Indexing? It's a tough job but someone's gotta do it. That said, I largely agree with the sentiment expressed below. I guess the way I would express it isn't "reflecting how the reader thinks" so much as establishing categories (or stepping stones?) of content that the reader can then plow through.

The role of the index in digital products has become a subject of heated debate when information professionals gather to formalize standards. Some publishers and authors are under the misguided impression that a full-text search can replace the traditional subject index. The American Society for Indexing (ASI) has spent the last few years reminding the world that a good index is not just a concordance; it adds value to a digital object beyond the basic word search. An index created by a good indexer reflects how the reader thinks and offers entry points that may not be written in the text. With increased attention on analytics and search, there is also a strong argument to be made that indexes are more important for digital publications than print ones.

Badgett, Nan. Medford, NJ. "A Review of "The Accidental Indexer", Information Today, 2015, 240 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19322909.2016.1229075

Yabba Dabba Doo!

Go Cubs!

Lost in Space

Yesterday's stroll through the southwest side of Chicago. Finally found Ogden and Western (though when I got there, I had to ask what way was north).

Current Cites for Sept. 2016

Current Cites for Sept. 2016 is out! You can find the issue here...

This month I recommended a helpful article from the Journal of Web Librarianship that discussed the use of Google Analytics to improve library website design.

First Saturday of the New School Year 2016

Annual photo with Jim from Access Services.

First Seven Jobs

Okay, since everyone's doing it:

1. Sales Assistant (Radio Shack, Chicago) - 16 yrs old.
2. Print Shop / Mimeograph Machine (Small indy business selling mailing lists on magnetic tape*, Playboy Tower, Chicago) - High School.
3. Customer Service, Credit Dept. (Carson, Pirie, Scott, Downtown Chicago) - College.
4. English Teacher (Year Abroad Program, Paris) - Post-College.
5. Manager, Hot Dog Stand (Fullerton Ave. Beach, Chicago).
6. English Teacher (Rome, later West Berlin).
7. Construction/Rehab Worker (West Berlin).

*Computer storage 70s style [source]:

Current Cites for July 2016

 Current Cites for July 2016 is out! You can find the issue here...

This month I recommended an article describing an innovative 'beacon-based' navigation system which opened with this excellent piece of advice, "...as with other technologies before it, usefulness does not magically emerge from implementing new technology; rather, it is the culmination of a comprehensive plan for merging technical know-how with business knowledge or user-generated content."

Chicago FestWeekend

 Three days of incredible events:

• RibFest on Friday, 6/10
• LitFest on Saturday, 6/11
• Blues Fest on Sunday, 6/12

Depaul University 'Library All-Star' Award

Wow! Awarded the "Library All-Star" Award from the library at Depaul University. They brought the thing over this Saturday. Thanks, everyone!

From the original nomination by head of our department, Terry:

“I would like to nominate Leo Klein as a Library All-Star. He fielded a question from an American Studies professor on a Saturday and provided a referral to me as the liaison to that department. In the meantime, his intellectual curiosity and service orientation led him to research the question and by the time I came in on Monday, he had successfully located several data sources and communicated with the professor, satisfying all of his needs for a presentation he would be delivering at the end of the month.

Not only was the professor happy with the speedy turnaround time, but it saved me a lot of time and effort in the process! I believe that for both of these reasons, Leo deserves this recognition in addition to my thanks (already communicated).”

From the Awards page:

"The Library AllStars award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate particular instances of exemplary service, where a staff member has gone the extra mile, made a big difference, saved the day, or made an especially significant and positive impact in some specific way -- whether that's something they did internally for the library organization, or directly with one or more colleagues, or through the provision of service to anyone in our library user community."

Again, thank you everyone! You don't know how rewarding this activity is. It's not a job -- it's an opportunity to serve!

Logical Next Step

 Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Current Cites for April 2016

 

Current Cites for April 2016 is out! You can find the issue here...

This month I recommended a rather enjoyable research article that looked at focus groups involving college students and their searching habits -- a situation rather familiar to those of us fortunate enough to work in public service. Included were lines like, "few students were aware of what a 'subject librarian' was".

Job Description : Part-time Reference Librarian

Just got a request to describe my activities as a part-time reference librarian. Here's my response:

Basically the part time job is totally reference (i.e. public service) work. Questions run from 'where is the copier/bathroom/color-printer' to 'I'm writing a research paper on advances in chemistry in the 18th Century and need to find some research articles'.

Am I an expert on advances in chemistry in the 18th Century? No, but I know where to get the student started and I can also show the student how to find articles and, equally as important, how to evaluate search results so that they branch out into even better material. I also know, finally, what the limits are and who and when to refer them to other people.

That's pretty much what I do.

MPOW: The Gravy Train

Hard to go on a diet in a place like this. 

Current Cites for March 2016

 

Current Cites for March 2016 is out! You can find the issue here...

This month I recommended an article that took text-based content analysis and applied it to tweets from the Twitter accounts of 10 different academic libraries. Interesting results.

Current Cites for January 2016

 

Current Cites for January 2016 is out! You can find the issue here...

Starting the year out right. I pointed to the "big anniversary issue" coming from the Journal of Electronic Publishing (JEP) celebrating its 20th year as an open access journal.

'Join the Conversation' Makes It to This Year's Banished Word List

 I've lived to see the day!  "Join the conversation" has made it to this year's LSSU Banished Word List!

University Releases 2016 Banned Words List (WGN)

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – A university in Michigan has come out with its annual list of banished words.

Each year Lake Superior State University bans words or phrases it deems overused, misused, or in poor taste. Top contenders for 2016 include “vape,” “break the Internet” and “conversation.”

Now if only "disruptive" and "iconic" could make it to next year's list! Puh-leeeeeeezzzzeee!